How much does it cost to travel to Jaco?
You should plan to spend around $104 (₡52,618) per day on your vacation in Jaco. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $21 (₡10,666) on meals
- $135 (₡68,312) on hotels
A one week trip to Jaco for two people costs, on average, $1,453 (₡736,654). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
-
One Week
Per person
$726
₡368,327
-
2 Weeks
Per person
$1,453
₡736,654
-
One Month
Per person
$3,113
₡1,578,544
-
One Week
For a couple
$1,453
₡736,654
-
2 Weeks
For a couple
$2,905
₡1,473,308
-
One Month
For a couple
$6,226
₡3,157,088
How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Jaco cost?
A one week trip to Jaco usually costs around $726 (₡368,327) for one person and $1,453 (₡736,654) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
A two week trip to Jaco on average costs around $1,453 (₡736,654) for one person and $2,905 (₡1,473,308) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Jaco will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.
A one month trip to Jaco on average costs around $3,113 (₡1,578,544) for one person and $6,226 (₡3,157,088) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Jaco has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Jaco expensive to visit?
Prices in Jaco are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within Central America, Jaco is a somewhat more expensive destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in Central America for its travel costs. While some cities in the region are more expensive, Jaco is generally more expensive than most.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Jaco Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Jaco?
The average Jaco trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Jaco travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
₡68,312
($135)
|
|
Food 2
|
₡10,666
($21)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
₡30,486
($60)
|
|
Tips and Handouts 1
|
₡156 -
469
($0 - 1)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
₡8,091 -
24,273
($16 - 48)
|
Accommodation Budget in Jaco
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Jaco is $67 (₡34,156). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Jaco is $135 (₡68,312). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Jaco? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Food Budget in Jaco
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Jaco can vary, the average cost of food in Jaco is $21 (₡10,666) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Jaco should cost around $8.41 (₡4,267) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Jaco is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$21
₡10,666
Typical prices for Food in Jaco are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Jaco, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
-
Hermosa BeachLlunch
₡2,000
-
Tsunami Sushi Dinner
₡8,967
-
Taco Bar Dinner
₡4,570
-
Pizza & Smoothie Lunch
₡3,200
-
Ice Cream
₡3,000
-
Breakfast Taco Bar
₡1,695
-
Fruit Plate
₡1,500
Entertainment Budget in Jaco
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Jaco typically cost an average of $60 (₡30,486) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$60
₡30,486
Typical prices for Entertainment in Jaco are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Jaco, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
-
Dance Class
₡4,982
-
Surf Lesson
₡24,909
-
Bike Rental
₡4,982
-
Tortuga Island Tour
₡49,556
-
Massage
₡22,486
Tips and Handouts Budget in Jaco
Calculated from travelers like you
Alcohol Budget in Jaco
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $32 (₡16,182) on alcoholic beverages in Jaco per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$32
₡16,182
Typical prices for Alcohol in Jaco are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Jaco, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
-
Wine
₡7,433
-
Night at the Bar
₡13,600
Jaco On a Budget
Sunset on Jaco Beach, Costa Rica
Jaco is a beach destination on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This resort city is located in the county of Garabito in the Puntarenas province. It has a population of about 10,000 residents and a 2.5 mile long beach that is an excellent surfing destination.
Because Jaco is located on the coast, it's weather is influenced by the water. The climate is humid with a relative humidity of about 80%, but climbing to 90% in the month of June. The temperature is usually between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit at night. There are distinct wet and dry seasons with August through early December being the rainy season and late December through early April being the dry season. Rain is irregular during the rest of the year.
Sights
You can easily see everything that Jaco has to offer in one day, but most people choose to spend at least several days here exploring, relaxing, swimming or partying. There are no shortage of fellow travelers in the area and you will have no trouble keeping yourself entertained. It's also possible to book tours to the surrounding areas where you can find more private beaches. Even better, if you have your own car, driving along the coastline is a wonderful way to enjoy the area. The beaches outside of Jaco are quite beautiful, and in the more remote areas you'll have much more privacy. You can reach Manuel Antonio National Park in about an hour's drive.
Neighborhoods
Jaco is a small town with about two and a half miles of beach. The town's main strip runs parallel to the water and is lined with many small shops and stands. There is also a small mall, El Galeone, that is on the main street.
Jaco is located between several mountains and has beaches to the north and south. Herradura Bay is to the north and Playa Hermosa is to the south. Carara National Park is about 35 kilometers to the south. This is where you'll find one of the largest populations of wild scarlet macaws in the country.
Activities
There is no shortage of activities that you can enjoy in Jaco. Surfing is probably the most popular activity. It's not expensive to rent a board for the day and this is an excellent place to learn to surf. The waves are good during high tides. There are also many different surfing camps and schools that you can choose from in the area, but make sure you choose one that is reputable and certified. If you want to rent a surf board, there are plenty of shops along Jaco's main street.
Zip line tours are also available in the area. You can see waterfalls, birds, and wildlife as you fly through the canopy. Jaco Beach Zip Line Canopy Tour is the main company in the area.
Food and Dining
There are many great restaurants in Jaco. You'll find anything from international food to traditional Costa Rican options or seafood. Sandwiches can make a cheap and filling lunch. You'll even find sushi here, which is a favorite among tourists. Bars are abundant as well. You can expect beers to cost about $2, and you'll find no shortage of places to grab a refreshing drink and chat with fellow travelers. Partying is a major part of the Jaco experience so bars are often lively and fun.
Transportation
You can reach Jaco from San Jose in a couple of hours. There are buses that leave from the Coca Cola bus station, or you can catch the Easy Ride Shuttle Service from the airport.
Once you arrive in Jaco you can reach most destinations by walking. You'll typically want to catch a ride with a taxi if it's dark out or too hot. The official taxis are red in color and it is best to stick with the official companies, but there are a handful of unofficial drivers that will pick you up as well. There is a taxi stand near the main grocery store and there are always taxis waiting outside of Beatle Bar.
Buses are also an option if you plan to stay in central Jaco. If you're heading to the outskirts of town, however, buses are not your best option. Local buses travel every hour between Herradura and Jaco, and while it goes through parts of Jaco, it does not go to the northern side. You can catch the bus to Herradura at the bus stop near the grocery store.
The city's official bus station is at the northern end of Jaco across from the Best Western Hotel. This is where you catch a bus to San Jose.
Related:
Looking for a
party hostel in Costa Rica or
Cancun? Looking for a
budget hostel in Mexico or
Costa Rica?
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.